Nebula (tm) Dark Continent (tm) You may copy and FREELY share this program with others. To become a registered user of Nebula or Dark Continent, and to receive a FREE COPY of ANY ONE of our adventures, send $15.00 to: Conrad R. Button 13807 S.E. 282 St. Kent, WA 98042 (C) Copyright 1986 by Conrad Button All Rights Reserved COPYRIGHT NOTICE (c) Copyright 1986-88 Conrad Button - All rights reserved - You are granted a limited license to use Nebula and Dark Continent. It may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of this license outlined in the section "Restricted Permission to Copy". Information on this disk is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Conrad Button. Conrad Button may make improvements and/or changes to this disk or to the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this disk at any time. This product could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein. Such changes may be incorporated in new editions of the publication. Nebula and Dark Continent are trademarks of Conrad Button. TABLE OF CONTENTS How to Start a Game . . . . . . . . . . . 4 How to Play a Game . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hints on Playing Games . . . . . . . . . . 5 Restricted Permission to Copy . . . . . . 6 Why Pay for the Games . . . . . . . . . . 7 Game Series Information . . . . . . . . . 8 HOW TO START THE GAME To start Nebula, use the following instructions. 1. Start your computer in the usual manner. 2. Insert the game disk into Drive A. 3. Type A: and press Enter. 4. Type NEBULA and press Enter. 5. Follow the instructions on the screen. To start Dark Continent you would use the same steps as shown for Nebula, only at step 4 you would type DARKCON instead of NEBULA. If you are using a monochrome monitor or a one color graphics monitor you should add an M to the end of step 4, (e.g. NEBULA M). This will allow the screen to be more readable on these monitors. HOW TO PLAY A text adventure is a fictional novel in which you are the main character. You will be given a quest which you must successfully complete. You may also be asked to collect treasures during your travels. Your PC will become your guide. It will tell you what it sees and hears, and will obey your commands, (most of the time). Although it speaks fluent English, it has trouble understanding long sentences. Please limit your commands to not more than two words, with the verb as the first word (e.g. throw ball). If the computer does not know or understand a word, it will tell you so. In that case, please use another word of similar meaning. We strongly advise you to build a map during your travels so that you can easily return to previously explored areas. The computer will give you the following information at the start of each round of play: 1. A description of your current location. 2. Items that you can see at this location. 3. Directions in which you can move (n-north, s-south, e-east, w-west, u-up, d-down) 4. Treasures will be marked by an '*' before and after the word. You must then respond by typing the action you wish to perform. -4- * * HINTS * * Most actions require two words such as: Light torch Get ruby Drop axe Examine door However, some actions need only one word: Help - for clues or advice Quit - to stop playing Others only need a single letter: U,D,N,S,E,W - which mean go up, go down, go north, etc. L - look to see where you are I - list your inventory. To save your current status so that you can resume play later, type SAVE GAME. -5- RESTRICTED PERMISSION TO COPY Nebula and Dark Continent are not public domain programs, and never have been. They are Copyright(C) 1986, by Conrad Button. The conditions under which you may copy the Nebula and Dark Continent programs and documentation are clearly outlined below. WARNING!!! The author intends to vigorously prosecute copyright violations. INDIVIDUALS AND COMPUTER CLUBS Private individuals and computer clubs are granted permission by the author to freely copy the Nebula and Dark Continent disk for non business use as long as the disk is not modified in any way. You may give the disk to friends, upload the files to electronic bulletin boards, or distribute the disk through computer clubs. However, you may not sell the disk for profit. User groups may charge a fee to cover the actual cost of the disk and of administration. This fee may not in any case exceed $10.00 total (equivalent U.S. dollars). Exceptions to these rules must be received in writing from Conrad Button. NO RENTING OR LEASING Nebula and Dark Continent may not be rented or leased under any circumstances. EXTRA COPIES When multiple copies are required, Nebula and Dark Continent are available at quantity discounts. Write Conrad Button for quantity prices. -6- SO WHY PAY $15.00 TO REGISTER? When you pay for Nebula or Dark Continent you participate in User-Supported software. That means you join thousands of people who get good quality software at affordable prices. Here are more reasons to register by paying $15.00: - The luxury of trying out a program before you buy it is rare. When you register (by sending in your money) you are saying, "I support buying software this way; and truly want to help continue this trend of keeping prices down." - Registering also means you will be notified about updates to Nebula and Dark Continent, as well as other adventures. - If you are using the product, you should pay for it. What it boils down to is this - it's the right thing to do. - As an extra incentive, you will receive a FREE COPY of ANY ONE of our other text adventures when you register. And if you register both adventures ($30), you will receive FREE COPIES of any TWO adventures! -7- BUTTON'S EDUCATIONAL AND ADVENTURE GAMES A whole new world of adventure is at your fingertips. Let our software and your PC take you into previously unexplored regions where you will experience new challenges, confront danger, and find untold treasures. Conrad Button offers a Learning Game Series and an Adventure Series. The Learning Series can help you improve your geography skills by taking you on expeditions to Africa and Asia. THE ASIAN CHALLENGE -- As a Special Senate Investigator, you have been sent to Asia on a mission to gather important information. You must report to the Foreign Aid Committee shortly on whether or not to grant additional funds to the needy countries of the continent. Learn about different Asian countries and their location as you travel. You must hurry because there is not much time before the committee will meet. (Learning Series) AFRICAN SAFARI -- You are the senior photographer for the International Geographic Magazine. You have been sent to Africa to photograph the people, land and animals of the continent. As you trek the high plains of Africa you will learn many different things about the people and geography of this vast continent. (Learning Series) NEBULA -- You are a NASA explorer sent to investigate a newly discovered star system. Your mission is to collect specimens from the new galaxy. Will you be able to complete your mission or will you be engulfed by the unknown perils of the universe? (Novice) DARK CONTINENT -- You have traveled to darkest Africa in search of King Solomon's Diamond. But after 3 days, your native bearers desert you and take your money and supplies. Will you survive and find the diamond, or will you be swallowed by this vast continent? (Intermediate) -8- RED PLANET -- The Federation of Earth has sent you to the planet Mars to secure the lost treasures of Aukbaa. Upon achieving planetary orbit you find that your fuel is depleted. Can you acquire the Lost Treasures of Aukbaa and return home? (Advanced) TIME TRAVELER -- The year is 2285. The people of the Earth are dying from a mysterious plague. A now extinct plant could provide the much needed cure. Time Travel is your only hope. Have you ever imagined the thrill of traveling back in time to visit the Old West, to participate in the American Revolution, to explore Ancient Egypt and the Age of the Dinosaur? TIME TRAVELER will transport you to these bygone days. (Expert) SPECIAL AGENT -- The President of the United States has sent you on a mission to the Soviet Union. You are to locate and photograph their new ballistic missile, the SS-X-27. Perhaps you desire to serve your country as a SPECIAL AGENT to the President, performing a secret mission deep within the Soviet Union. (Expert) SANCTUARY -- A nuclear war has devastated the Earth. You are one of the few remaining survivors. Gangs of mutants roam the land. You must find a sanctuary to ensure your survival. Have you ever wondered what civilization would be like following a nuclear war? Would there be a SANCTUARY for protection against the mutated beings inhabiting this world? (Master) RAIDERS OF THE STAR TEMPLE -- As a Professor of Archeology you have specialized in the ancient Mayan culture. You recently read an article concerning the possible existence of a lost Mayan temple somewhere near Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula. And you have heard an Indian legend which tells of a Star Temple containing a fabulous treasure of diamonds. You are resolved to find this temple, if it truly exists. (Master) AVENGER OF RUBICON -- Your King and fellow warriors have been slain. You have been severely wounded. As you stagger from the battlefield, you vow to avenge this carnage. You will seek out and destroy the perpetrator of this foul deed - Lugor the Evil Presence. You are about to face the greatest challenge of your life! (Grand Master) ADVENTURE HINT BOOK -- The hint book is designed to provide clues and helpful hints. This book covers all of the adventure game series (learning series excluded . -9- ORDER FORM Price Price Item Qty Each Extended ---------------------------------------------------------- Raiders of the Star Temple & Avenger of Rubicon _____ $29.95 $_________ Sanctuary & Special Agent _____ $22.50 $_________ Time Traveler & Red Planet _____ $22.50 $_________ Dark Continent & Nebula _____ $22.50 $_________ African Safari & The Asian Challenge _____ $29.95 $_________ Adventure Hint Disk _____ $ 8.50 $_________ (Includes ALL but Learning Series) Subtotal $_________ Shipping & Handling $____2.50_ TOTAL $_________ Available on 5 1/4" disk only. All purchase orders must be prepaid. NO COD's. Credit Card orders NOT accepted. Please send your check or money order to: Conrad Button 13807 S.E. 282 St. Kent, WA 98042 -10-